Center Theatre (Dover-Foxcroft) facts for kids
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| Address | 20 East Main Street Dover-Foxcroft, Maine United States |
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| Coordinates | 45°11′03″N 69°13′45″W / 45.184109°N 69.229087°W |
| Type | Performing Arts Center |
| Capacity | 264 and 40 |
| Opened | June 6, 1940 |
The Center Theatre is a historic theater in Dover-Foxcroft, Maine, where you can watch movies and see live shows. It first opened way back in 1940. After being closed for many years, it was saved and reopened in the 2000s.
Today, it's a busy performing arts center. The main theater has 264 seats, and a smaller, newer theater called the "Off-Center Theatre" has 40 seats. It hosts everything from plays and concerts to community events and the latest movies.
Contents
The Story of the Theatre
A Grand Beginning
The Center Theatre was built in 1940 after the town's previous theater, the New Star, was destroyed in a fire. The grand opening was on June 6, 1940. For a while, it was a popular spot, but by the 1950s, fewer people were coming. The theater finally closed its doors in 1971.
For many years, the main theater area was abandoned. The lobby, however, was used for different businesses like restaurants and video arcades.
A Community Comes to the Rescue
In 1998, a group of people in the town decided to save the old theater. They formed a non-profit group to fix it up and turn it into a modern performing arts center.
The renovation was a huge job. Workers had to make major repairs to the building's structure. They also installed new doors, a sprinkler system for safety, and all-new plumbing, electrical, and heating systems. The stage was made bigger, and a special catwalk for stage lights was added.
The Famous Marquee
The theater's original marquee, the big sign with lights out front, was taken down in 1974 because people worried it might fall. In 2004, a company in Maine built an exact copy of the original.
A special lighting ceremony was held in December 2004 to unveil the new marquee, 30 years after the old one came down. In 2016, the sign's lights were updated to energy-saving LEDs.
Reopening Night
The newly restored Center Theatre for the Performing Arts had its second grand opening in August 2006. This was 66 years after its very first opening day.
The first movie shown in the reopened theater was Gone With the Wind. This movie was chosen because the original theater wasn't built in time to show it when it first came out in 1940.
Modern Upgrades
In 2013, the theater got a modern digital movie projector. The old 35mm film projector is now on display in the lobby. It even holds a time capsule that was sealed inside it in 2016 to celebrate the theater's 10th anniversary of reopening.
A second, smaller movie screen was added in February 2021. This 40-seat theater allows them to show more new movies, documentaries, and films made right here in Maine.
In May 2021, the Center Theatre received the Golden Apple Award from the Maine Education Association. This award is given to groups that show a strong commitment to local schools and children.
The Slightly Off-Center Players
The Slightly Off-Center Players is the theater's own community acting group. They put on live shows right on the Center Theatre stage. Some of their past shows have included Fiddler on the Roof, A Christmas Carol, and The Sound of Music. The shows often feature actors of all ages, including kids and teens.
The group also offers fun learning experiences for young people. They run drama camps during summer and school vacations. In 2021, the theater started an after-school arts program for high school students.
Maine Whoopie Pie Festival
Every year, the Center Theatre hosts the Maine Whoopie Pie Festival. This popular event brings over 8,000 people to downtown Dover-Foxcroft.
At the festival, you can try whoopie pies from bakers all over Maine. There are also live bands, fun activities for kids, and booths from local artists and businesses.
A Historic Part of Town
In 2021, the Center Theatre helped make downtown Dover-Foxcroft a National Commercial Historic District. This special status recognizes the historical importance of the buildings on Main Street. It also helps building owners get tax benefits and grants to help them restore and take care of these historic properties.
